Zelenskiy Seeks to Cement Ukraine's Spiritual Independence

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy aims to bolster Ukraine's spiritual independence by moving towards banning the Orthodox Church linked to Moscow. Despite the independent church's growth since 2019 and the Russian invasion, the Moscow-linked branch retains influence. Proposed legislation to curb this influence has faced challenges and remains in limbo.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pledged on Saturday to "strengthen our Ukrainian spiritual independence", hinting at efforts to potentially ban the branch of the Orthodox Church tied to Moscow.

While a majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians, the faith is divided. One branch maintains historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, while another, recognized globally since 2019, is independent and loyal to Kyiv. Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, membership in the independent church has surged. However, the Moscow-linked church still holds sway, with Ukrainian leaders accusing it of aiding the invasion and manipulating public sentiment.

"I have just held a meeting—a preparatory one—regarding a decision that will strengthen our Ukrainian spiritual independence," Zelenskiy stated in his nightly address. "We must eliminate Moscow's remaining avenues to infringe upon the freedoms of Ukrainians. We will ensure the effectiveness of these decisions."

Last year, the Ukrainian parliament tentatively approved a bill to ban religious organizations affiliated with aggressor states, including Russia. However, a recent attempt to finalize the bill failed, leaving it in a legislative limbo. The Moscow-linked church claims it severed ties with the Russian Orthodox Church after the invasion, but Ukrainian authorities contest this and have initiated criminal proceedings against several clerics, including treason charges.

Concerns have also arisen among Ukrainian lawmakers regarding potential backlash from conservative Republicans in the U.S., Ukraine's key Western supporter, on the grounds of religious freedom restrictions.

(With inputs from agencies.)